Opening Day, Baby!
Sure, there were official games played last week, but they were in TOKYO, for Pete's sake and they started at 3:05 AM. So on Earth Steve, those games don't count.Last night the Nationals played the Braves and neither of those teams are going anywhere, plus they are boring and (in at least one case) sad, so they also count not.Today at 4:05 PM, the Angels play the Twins and that makes THIS Opening Day!Here are the 2008 Predictions:AL West: Angels (natch)AL Central: TigersAL East: Red SoxAL Wild Card: YankeesNL West: DiamondbacksNL Central: CubsNL East: MetsNL Wild Card: PhilliesAL Champ: AngelsNL Champ: MetsWorld Champion...My heart says Angels. My head says Mets. Flashbacks to 1986.PLAY BALL!!!
Six Feet Deep Thoughts
This is the funniest thing I've read in quite some time.(And you can tell a lot about people by what they think is funny, can't you?)
God in the 21st Century
Part 6 of Section K (Personal Profile Statement) from my seminary application asks me to "provide a brief description of [my] philosophy of Christian ministry and how it relates to God's mission in the 21st century."One of the things I'm looking forward to about seminary is being challenged to think about my faith. I'm looking forward to answering questions I had never considered before, to articulating what I believe. In truth, it would probably be a good idea for all Christians to put these things into words.I like the thought of God's mission in the 21st century. Has it changed? Is His mission any different today than it was in the first days of the church? In the first days of humanity? I know what I'm going to write. What would you say?
Easter Bikin'
Yesterday, after a wonderful Easter service (and, arguably, an even wonderfuller nap), I went outside with the boy and gave him just the slightest push on his bike. He took off and rode like a pro. Within 20 minutes he was braking and turning and looking like he'd been riding for years.The smile tells the story.
7!
I don't blog much during vacation, but I have to brag on my boy a little today.James is the most well-behaved, funniest, fastest, coolest, sweetest, kindest, best-looking boy in the entire world. Perhaps the universe.There are no words to describe how much I love that kid. He makes me happy just looking at him. He cracks me up with very little effort. And he does all those things that I'm soaking up before the teenage years hit. He hugs. He wants to be around his parents. He tells us he loves us without wanting cash money.Yesterday he rode his bike and didn't know I'd let go.Today he bowled three games and even tried to practice a little lane etiquette, at least when he was thinking about it.Tomorrow...who knows? Each day is a surprise and a joy and an adventure. It wasn't that long ago that he was proving quite a challenge. He was testing boundaries, pushing to see if we pushed back. For now, he's figured a few things out and we're all just enjoying the ride. I just can't tell you how proud I am of him. Happy Birthday to my beloved son, in whom I am extremely well pleased.
Joy
This morning I woke up with this thought in my head:"True joy comes not from without, but from within."Where do those waking thoughts come from anyway?
Self-Esteem
2008 is now officially the year of the fat face.My 43-year-old jowls and cheeks have certainly been growing out of proportion to the rest of my face for some time now, but the picture I saw of myself yesterday is the final proof: I have a fat face.As much as we try to promote positive self-esteem with our students...often to the point of political correctness outweighing truthiness...sometimes we mid-lifers forget the facts also apply to us. To wit: We are created in the image of God.His love is unconditional.Man looks at the surface but God looks at the heart.So while I could sit here and list a dozen things I really don't like about myself, all I would accomplish is offending my Creator. It's easier, and better, to turn the picture over...count my many blessings...and grade these tests.
Countdown
Spring Break: 4 daysOpening Day: 14 days *Hawaii: 60 daysIJatKOTCS: 72 days **Summer Vacation: Not nearly soon enough.* Offically, Opening Day is March 25. But since this is for the ridiculous two-game series between the Red Sox (whom I hate) and the A's (whom I despise)...and since said series is in Japan (???)...and since game time for me will be 3:05 AM (!!!), Opening Day for Steve will herewith be considered to be March 31 when the Angels take on the Twinkies at 4:05 PM. So 20 days is more like it.** While it opens May 22, I'm sure I will be getting in line for the midnight showing sometime on the 21st, so the countdown may be adjusted accordingly. I read an interview yesterday with the two screenwriters for Star Trek who are also (of course) huge Indiana Jones fans. They are currently working on a movie with Shia LaBeouf (they also wrote the Transformers screenplay if that can, in fact, be called "writing") and they are spending every day with their hands over their ears, yelling at Shia not to give anything away. A fan's a fan and we all want to see the movie for the first time together. Still, interesting problem to have, eh?
God is Good
All the time.I am again in the midst of a very busy time. Fresh off a wonderful retreat weekend, joyfully preparing the message for Sunday, and getting ready for some quality time with my boy as Lisa is away for a few days. Meanwhile I have 5 classes to teach (and one to discipline heavily for vandalizing my room while I was retreating). And there are always the odds and ends, those things that make you stop in the middle of the room and say, "OH, I still have to....."So it seems like a good time to stop, to be still, and just to be in God's refreshing presence. He wants us to know Him, to truly know Him. He woos us, He draws us closer, He whispers to us constantly, reminding us Who He is. The world does not know Him. They think He is an angry god, an awful god, even an absent god. They ask how we can worship a god who does such horrible things, a god who allows disasters and atrocities. They do not see a god who can hurt, who can be hurt, who can grieve.Last night in Clovis, an older couple was involved in what the police are calling a "murder/suicide." What likely happened was that the man, 82, shot his wife accidentally and then used the rifle on himself. They were the parents of a colleague and friend of mine...and she has every right to ask me those questions the next time I see her. It falls to me to show her that God aches for a lost and broken world. That He is alive, that He is active, that He loves us all in spite of the way we turn our backs on Him.God wants us to know Him. But we can't know Him unless we want to ourselves. That desire is the first step towards relationship. I hurt for my friend today, but because of my relationship with the Father, I am still able to rest in His love.
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